Not all views from Sedona require a lot of hiking or are hard to get to – there are plenty of easy places to take in the view with minimal to no hiking required! Sedona is hands down a gorgeous place all around. You are surrounded by majestic red rocks all over the place. Some views are better than others, and some views are harder to get to than others. Here are the top 5 easiest places to take in the views.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
One: Airport Mesa – Views from the Top
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- Mesmerized by the sunset
The Airport Mesa is as easy as it can get with grand views in Sedona. There’s a parking lot, you walk from there for less than 0.25 miles (even from the further side) and take in the views. This place is very popular to watch the sunset and sunrise, so the parking lot gets a little crowded, but we went on Memorial Day weekend Saturday at sunset (right when it was setting) and the crowds were not that bad. So any other day – you should have it pretty good! Definitely wheelchair accessible, and stroller friendly too.
Two: Cathedral Rock – Views Among the Red Rocks
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- Views from Cathedral Rock Tempelton Trail
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- Views of Cathedral Rock from down blow
The hike at Cathedral Rock is an easy hike, we did it with kids! We didn’t go all the way to the top, but the views are incredible even if you don’t want to go up. Just go up the Cathedral Rock Trail, and instead of continuing the trail all the way up where it gets steep, you can walk around to Templeton trail for continuous amazing views. You can walk to the left (while facing the Cathedral Rock), for continuous amazing views, or go towards the right, and it will lead you to a river. Bonus: It’s a vortex site too! Not all-accessible. You will have to walk or have a baby carrier for this view.
Three: Main Street Sedona – Views Among Shops
Views from Main Street Sedona
There’s a block or two of uninterrupted panoramic views of the red rocks in downtown, Main Street Sedona. There are plenty of street and public FREE parking in Sedona (we are from San Francisco so we are always afraid of parking – not so much in Sedona)! You can’t miss this strip of views once you pull into the area, it’s right there. We stood by a little opening next to the Pink Jeep Tours building for this view without the fence in the background. This is also an all-accessible place.
Four: Slide Rock State Park – Views from the River
Slide Rock River
The walk to the slide rock river and swimming area is probably about 0.5 miles at most, and much of it is flat and easy. You will see striking red rocks all around you while you can literally slide down the red rocks. It’s pure fun. We walked/baby carried, but we saw others with strollers and wheelchairs. So it’s doable, but you will have to have people able to carry you/stroller.
Five: Restaurants in Sedona – Views with Cocktails and Food
View from Cowboy Grill
We absolutely loved our views from the 2 restaurants we went to – Cowboy Club Grill and the Oaxaca Restaurant. Both places, you should sit outside for the best views. For Cowboy Club Grill, you won’t have a view from the inside, but the Oaxaca Restaurant, you get a decent view from window seats inside. These two places are also absolutely accessible to anyone!
There you have it!
We were so impressed with the views of these Sedona red rocks, and also equally awed by how different each place felt and what they have to offer. Whether you want to be surrounded by the red rocks, want to take it all in from the top or bottom, or prefer your views with a cocktail and food in your hand, you won’t be disappointed in views that Sedona has to offer!
Are you going to Sedona in the summer? Or are interested in hiking and want to know more? Read more here:
- 40+ Kid-Friendly Hikes in San Francisco’s South Bay
- 30+ Kid-Friendly Hikes in 49 Square Miles of San Francisco
- A summer weekend in Sedona – First Timers Guide
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Where to see amazing views in Sedona with minimal to no hiking #sedona #arizona #hiking #cathedralrock #allaccessible #sunset #sedonasunset #sunrise #sedonasurise #sliderock #airportmesa #mainstreetsedona
This looks so fun! Adding another place to our travel bucket list:)
All of these views look absolutely incredible!! I’d definitely be spoilt for choice if I were to ever visit Sedona – wouldn’t know where to start! I’m a sucker for a pretty view but absolutely HATE the getting there part, especially if it involves physical exercise of any kind. So Airport Mesa sounds great to me – only 0.25miles of walking? I’ll take that!
Ooh this is so good to know! I’m hoping to go to Sedona in August, so this will be really helpful!
Oh these will be perfect in August when it will be so hot! You will be able to just quickly get out of your car at some of these places and check out the views! (Or go early morning/late evening to beat the heat.)
It’s so gorgeous! And close to SF Bay! It’s an easy weekend (long weekend is better because there’s so much to do) getaway!
Haha I am glad you are on the same page! Especially when it get so hot out in Arizona! Hope you get to visit someday!
I actually quite like a good hike to get to a good viewpoint, but these are pretty amazing for so little effort! Then if you wanted, you could always walk nearby as well!!
Isn’t Sedona just breathtaking?! I wish I had these tips the last time I was driving through. I only had a few hours to explore and had trouble figuring out quick options to enjoy the area!
These are so beautiful! And I love how they’re easy to get to also – I need to go here next time I’m in the US!
Yes! Hope you get to check it out!
I hope you are able to go back again!!
We usually love a good hike too (just did 9 miles yesterday)! But sometimes it’s not possible with 2 kids. We loved how there were these easy options in Sedona so we didn’t get FOMO. 🙂